Publisher’s Note
As of December 6, 2009, The Town Drunk has permanently closed to new submissions,
and no further issues are planned. I extend my sincerest thanks to the authors who
entertained us, the submissions editors who donated their time and expertise, and the
readers who made it all worthwhile. Producing this magazine has been a lot of work,
and a lot of fun! Unfortunately, circumstances no longer permit me to serve effectively
as Editor, and I do not feel that is fair to our authors and readers.

Note, however, that The Town Drunk will remain online indefinitely. I am planning
to restructure it as an online anthology, probably sometime after the first of the year.
No URLs will change; authors may retain any links to their stories here.

A pinkish gold puffball nestled between the baby’s cheek and shoulder, covered in sparkly scales
and wrapped up in rice paper wings... It raised its narrow head to look back at her, blinking slowly
through thin lids... A dragon, no bigger than her fist. In the crib.